52 replies to this topic

[MustrumRidcully]

So here's a question for the Battle Tech Lore experts.
I like the variant names of mechs like HKB-4G, HBK-4P or CAT-K2 or AS7-D-DC. But what do they mean? Is there a system to them, or was it just made-up to have some "technical looking" meaning. (Kinda like how in the real world, weapons have names like M16 vs M14, G36 bvs G36K).

Do the numbers imply something like HBK-4G means 4th generation HBK design, G stands for a certain weapon loadout? (The AWS-9Q is basically the 8Q with more advanced technology, for example) Or is it all just crazy made up number and letters?

[James The Fox Dixon]

It usually means which House used them and/or where the mech production plant was located at. Like the AS7-D-DC stands for the Draconis Combine variant of the AS7-D.

[Metus regem]

MustrumRidcully, on 26 May 2017 - 01:00 AM, said:

So here's a question for the Battle Tech Lore experts.
I like the variant names of mechs like HKB-4G, HBK-4P or CAT-K2 or AS7-D-DC. But what do they mean? Is there a system to them, or was it just made-up to have some "technical looking" meaning. (Kinda like how in the real world, weapons have names like M16 vs M14, G36 bvs G36K).

Do the numbers imply something like HBK-4G means 4th generation HBK design, G stands for a certain weapon loadout? (The AWS-9Q is basically the 8Q with more advanced technology, for example) Or is it all just crazy made up number and letters?

Generally speaking they do:

IS Designations:

D -- Davion
S -- Steiner
L -- Liao
M -- Marik
K -- Kurita
O -- Omni
OA -- Omni Alt.A
OB -- Omni Alt. B
OU -- Omni Underwater config

Special IS Designation example:

AS7-D-DC; Atlas 7 series, variant Davion, Draconis Combine refit


IS General usage designations:

R
G
Rb -- Star League Royal unit


As for your real world example, there is a convention that is used....

G36 is the model of the rifle:

G36V -- Variant
MG36 -- Machine gun
G36K -- Short; Carbine
G36C -- Compact
G36KC -- Compact Carbine

[MustrumRidcully]

THanks for the replies so far.

So, what does the P in the 4P or the SP stand for? (SP = Steiner + whatever P means?)

[Metus regem]

MustrumRidcully, on 26 May 2017 - 07:10 AM, said:

THanks for the replies so far.

So, what does the P in the 4P or the SP stand for? (SP = Steiner + whatever P means?)

From my understanding the P in the HBK-4P and SP stands for Package, this is due to this line from the TRO entry for the unit:

"Dwindling stockpiles of spare parts and personal dislike for a weapon which could easily overheat the 'Mech led many owners to replace the Hunchback's trademark autocannon with another set-up, resulting in a variety of variants collectively known as the Swayback due to the altered nature of the machine's torso."

As all Swaybacks are the following variants in MWO:

HBK-4P
HBK-4SP
HBK-4J

In TT there are upgraded versions in the 5 - 7 series that are all Swaybacks of the three I listed for MWO.

[MustrumRidcully]

Metus regem, on 26 May 2017 - 07:20 AM, said:

From my understanding the P in the HBK-4P and SP stands for Package, this is due to this line from the TRO entry for the unit:

"Dwindling stockpiles of spare parts and personal dislike for a weapon which could easily overheat the 'Mech led many owners to replace the Hunchback's trademark autocannon with another set-up, resulting in a variety of variants collectively known as the Swayback due to the altered nature of the machine's torso."

As all Swaybacks are the following variants in MWO:

HBK-4P
HBK-4SP
HBK-4J

In TT there are upgraded versions in the 5 - 7 series that are all Swaybacks of the three I listed for MWO.

Did you cite the wrong part or did you not mean to write "package" but Spare Part? I can't see a reference to package in the text within the quotation marks. (J wouldn't fit package nor spare part, though.)

[Metus regem]

MustrumRidcully, on 26 May 2017 - 09:20 AM, said:

Did you cite the wrong part or did you not mean to write "package" but Spare Part? I can't see a reference to package in the text within the quotation marks. (J wouldn't fit package nor spare part, though.)

No I ment to type what I typed, the Swayback serie Hunchbacks started with the P variant, but was later expanded to include the SP (SRM/6 Packs) and the J type (LRM Packs). Honestly the HBK swaybacks are the most confusing of the lot.

[Mechwarrior4670152]

Metus regem, on 26 May 2017 - 06:53 AM, said:

D -- Davion
S -- Steiner
L -- Liao
M -- Marik
K -- Kurita

An exception to this, the CN9-AL is the Lyran (IE Steiner) variant

[Metus regem]

Wence the Wanderer, on 26 May 2017 - 03:45 PM, said:

An exception to this, the CN9-AL is the Lyran (IE Steiner) variant

Wouldn't be a rule with out an exception or two.

[SuperFunkTron]

What is the "N" designation for? Example being Dragon 1N

[Mechwarrior4670152]

SuperFunkTron, on 26 May 2017 - 04:41 PM, said:

What is the "N" designation for? Example being Dragon 1N

All I know about that one is that it is the default variant

[James The Fox Dixon]

SuperFunkTron, on 26 May 2017 - 04:41 PM, said:

What is the "N" designation for? Example being Dragon 1N

N stands for Nykvarn which is a planet in Kuritan space and where Luthien Armor Works produced the Dragon series of mechs.

http://www.sarna.net...r_Works#Nykvarn

Edited by James The Fox Dixon, 26 May 2017 - 05:04 PM.

[Karl Streiger]

Guys guys guys

You are kiding me aint ya?

DC -Double Cockpit = Command Console

[Mechwarrior4670152]

Karl Streiger, on 27 May 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

Guys guys guys

You are kiding me aint ya?

DC -Double Cockpit = Command Console

I.... had forgotten that.

[Metus regem]

Karl Streiger, on 27 May 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

Guys guys guys

You are kiding me aint ya?

DC -Double Cockpit = Command Console

Myself as well... Seems I forgot too.

[Exilyth]

The Mechcommander series handled variant designations a bit differently.

In the first mechcommander, all chassis had one or more of up to four variants:
a - 'armor' was usually the defensive variant which had more armor
w - 'weapon' was the offensive variant which had more weapons
s - 'special'/'sensors' had less weapons and armor but better sensors or other special equipment
j - 'jump' was the jump jet equipped variant (usefull for jumping over walls and capturing gate/turret control towers)

If I remember correctly, MC2 followed a similar system.

Most variants were based on variants from TROs, but others took a bit more 'artistic freedom' for the sake of gameplay.

[James The Fox Dixon]

Exilyth, on 28 May 2017 - 04:46 AM, said:

The Mechcommander series handled variant designations a bit differently.

In the first mechcommander, all chassis had one or more of up to four variants:
a - 'armor' was usually the defensive variant which had more armor
w - 'weapon' was the offensive variant which had more weapons
s - 'special'/'sensors' had less weapons and armor but better sensors or other special equipment
j - 'jump' was the jump jet equipped variant (usefull for jumping over walls and capturing gate/turret control towers)

If I remember correctly, MC2 followed a similar system.

Most variants were based on variants from TROs, but others took a bit more 'artistic freedom' for the sake of gameplay.

Great info except MC isn't canon and is excluded from being counted for lore purposes.

[Metus regem]

Exilyth, on 28 May 2017 - 04:46 AM, said:

Most variants were based on variants from TROs, but others took a bit more 'artistic freedom' for the sake of gameplay.

Like the 55t Centurions....

[James The Fox Dixon]

Karl Streiger, on 27 May 2017 - 12:13 PM, said:

Guys guys guys

You are kiding me aint ya?

DC -Double Cockpit = Command Console

The Atlas D-DC is not a double cockpit design. It's a command variant of the Davion model that was used by the Draconis Combine. The only Star League mech, from TRO 3025 that had a dual cockpit was the Battlemaster 1G and 3M variant. The Lyran Commonwealth used AS7-D's with a dual cockpit design and it didn't have a command console.

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Dual_Cockpit

[Karl Streiger]

Some designations like the N in DRG-1N are simple - DRaGoN
You find this on some other Mechs.
Most later have some meaning most first generation only have the explanation that comes in mind.

G could be juggernaut
Q don't know CQB doesn't fit any historical vehis with Q

Last not least retcon. When they wrote the lore for the AS7-D there was no KGC.
Of course JR7-D and AS7-D interesting isn't it.